280 



THE BEGINNERS GARDEN BOOK 



until it is at the right height. Then press the earth around 

 the roots. 



Here shows one disadvantage of the dibber : roots set by 

 it are sure to be crowded. Trowel-set 

 roots can at least be spread like a fan. 

 The larger the plants, the greater the ad- 

 vantage of the trowel. 



The proper depth is not hard to de- 

 termine. With such plants as young 

 asters, or lettuce, which have a crown 



FlG 154 Uging from which all the leaves spring, set this 



the dibber to press crown just at the level of the ground. 



roote^ But with P lants whose leaves S P rin g from 



a stalk, such as zinnia or tomato, the 

 plant may be set at almost any depth, even two or three 

 inches deeper than before. Then the roots are deep, and 

 are not likely to dry out. 

 This kind of plant may also 

 be set in a little hollow, 

 made with the hand. This 

 is of use on future days in 

 watering ; it holds the water 

 and leads it directly to the 

 roots. But plants with a 

 crown cannot be set in such 

 hollows, which will fill up 

 with earth and cover the FIG 155 . _ UNSHEARED PLANTS 



Crown bud. ABOVE, SHEARED PLANTS BELOW. 



Since plants which have See also the crowded roots of the 



., J . . .., dibber-set plants, to the left. Are the 



lost SOme of their roots Will spre ad roots better? 



have a hard time supporting 



all of their leaves, it is wise to remove some of the leaf sur- 

 face. Some do this by clipping or tearing off the ends of all 

 the leaves ; others tear off some of the leaves entirely. 



